Seitaro Yamazaki Newsletter December 25, 2024

JOURNAL

A Quick Update from Berlin to Fukushima: My Recent Art Adventures

It’s been a while since I last posted here, and I’ve got some exciting updates to share, starting with my solo exhibition in Berlin.

My First Exhibition in Berlin: A Journey of Unexpected Challenges

This exhibition was a milestone for me—it was my very first solo show in Germany! The journey to get my work there was a bit stressful, though. My art was stuck in customs for a while after I shipped it via FedEx, and I honestly had a few panicked moments wondering if it would arrive on time. But with a little luck (and a lot of effort), the installation was completed just in time for the opening.

The venue, Hošek Contemporary, is one of the most unique spaces I’ve ever exhibited in.

The gallery is located in a warehouse on a cargo ship moored along the Spree River, right in the heart of Berlin. It’s a beautiful, unconventional space that feels deeply connected to the city’s history.

To get there, you actually pass through a Calisthenics Park—talk about an unexpected entrance!

Here’s a peek at the setup of the exhibition:

And here’s a shot of the exhibition space right before the reception:

I was excited to showcase several of my ongoing projects, including my 8 million traces series, Specimens of the spilled over, and Stories Not Used. I also brought along a 30-meter-long photography installation—my first time exhibiting this outdoor series, which was shot in Shiroyama Park in Inagi City, Japan. Beside it was my large book Stories Not Used.

Berlin’s history, especially its destruction during WWII, was a major influence on this exhibition. The city, like Tokyo, was almost completely destroyed, and the ghosts of the past seem to linger in the air—like voices that never made it into history. It’s an eerie but powerful feeling, similar to the atmosphere of Noh theater. This made Berlin the perfect backdrop for the work I wanted to share.

The exhibition was an incredible opportunity to reconnect with friends and fellow artists in Berlin. However, I did catch a cold while I was there, which led to me missing a seminar I had been looking forward to back in Tokyo. It was a real disappointment, but I’m already looking forward to future opportunities.

Marginal Art Fair: An Art Fair with a Purpose in Fukushima

Switching gears, I’m also excited to announce my involvement in the Margins Art Fair in Hirono Town, Fukushima. This area was heavily impacted by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster led to the evacuation of the entire town. The fair will take place in Futatsunuma General Park, a location that carries the weight of this history.

I’m not only involved as an artist in this project, but also as a director, helping to bring this fair to life. It all started when Solare Hotels and Resorts, for which I had been handling branding, opened a new hotel brand called Hatago Inn near Hirono Station. This sparked interest in using art to support the town’s reconstruction, and soon enough, I was asked to help with an art project in the area.

After navigating a few twists and turns, we received a grant from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry to help fund the fair, which we are now preparing for. We also held an open call for artists to participate, and we’ve selected 61 outstanding artists from all over.

The theme of the fair is “ blank space”—a concept that we hope will spark a new movement in Japan’s art scene, especially one that comes from the margins. This is part of a broader effort to support the recovery of the affected areas in Fukushima.

The fair will be held on January 25-26, 2025. We’ve also partnered with Hatago Inn in Hirono, which will serve as an artist camp for the event. The space will be a bit like a contemporary art retreat, with artists and staff staying overnight, and we’re planning a reception on the evening of the 25th. If you’re nearby or planning to visit, I’d love for you to join us.

We’re also looking for sponsors to support the fair, so if you or your company are interested, please get in touch with us at info@artfairhirono.com.